The Lady Movin’ Mavs have proven themselves championship contenders with back-to-back national championship tournament appearances, though both ended in runner-up finishes. This season, they're embracing a fresh start, maintaining a clear mindset and positive attitude, with the goal of making another championship run.
With a 3-1 kick off in their opening tournament, the Mavs had a strong start with a team led by veterans and two freshmen. The team looks to showcase its skills and determination, pushing each other to their limits.
“We have to do the little things in order to win,” Morgan Wood, Lady Movin’ Mavs head coach said. “Winning is just the result of hard work.”
Wood said this season's goal includes being consistent, keeping team energy, and maintaining high communication. The team is using the championship game loss as fuel to build off.
“My motto is ‘whoever does the fundamentals the best will win the game,’” Wood said. “This year we’re really taking those fundamentals to the next level, we’re really building on things that we’ve been learning the past couple years.”
There’s been exponential growth over the years with returning players, allowing the team to focus on individual development, Wood said. The team is stressing defense and court awareness whereas last season focused on offense, she said.
Entering year five, player Zoe Voris said she’s focused on continuing her growth as a player and stepping into a leadership role with younger players on the team.
To stay in a good headspace before tournaments, Voris said she journals, jotting down activities that she wants to focus on daily, which has been beneficial.
“Individual development is so important for the team but a lot of that takes individual accountability,” Wood said. “Our team’s really transformed themselves over the summer, they put in the work even without me.”
Like many teams, sometimes the Lady Movin’ Mavs are their own worst enemy, but acknowledgment, accepting things for what they are and accepting change will help the team move positively, Wood said.
Brittany Yeomans, Lady Movin’ Mavs player, said the team bonded over the summer, played basketball and she said she’s excited to see how the camaraderie translates to the court.
“I’m looking forward to the chemistry with the new girls coming in and just seeing how we work together.”
Players are polishing their skills on both sides of the court, but more importantly, staying mentally fit, which has been a struggle, said Yeomans.
“We have to be in another championship game,” Wood said. “We have to put up a better effort in a championship game.”
Wood believes in the team 100%, Voris said. According to Voris, she's tough in pushing players past their limits but wholeheartedly knows the team is capable of whatever it puts its mind to.
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